Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

Yi Zhonghai and his two companions seized Yan Bugui and began to beat him mercilessly.

In fact, all three of them knew that being covered by a quilt had not caused any real harm to Yan Bugui.

At most, it's extremely insulting, but there's really nothing wrong with it.

Didn't you see that Yan Bugui didn't even scream? If it were really painful, he would have yelled loudly.

It has to be Yi Zhonghai; no matter how angry he is, he maintains a sliver of rationality.

If he were to recklessly throw a punch, the consequences could be quite serious.

His apprentice and his mother will definitely follow, and who knows what kind of beating they'll give Yan Bugui.

Now I can beat myself up as much as I want under the covers, just to vent my anger.

Perhaps they were a little tired from the fight, as all three of them were out of breath.

"Alright, stop fighting." Yi Zhonghai led the Jia family mother and son back, then said to Yan Bu, who was under the quilt:

"Old Yan, that's enough. What you did was trespassing. You won't get away with it if the police report you."

That's all I have to say. The choice is yours.

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui threw off the quilt, his forehead covered in sweat. He roared angrily:

"Then how do you suggest we handle this? You even went to my school to complain. Should I go to the steel mill and report you, Jia Dongxu, too?!"

"Then we won't need to work anymore. Let's see whose family is stronger. Do you think I'm afraid of your Jia family?"

"Yi Zhonghai, you tell me yourself, every single conflict between me and the Jia family was started by them. Did I ever actively provoke the Jia family?"

"Everything should be done reasonably. I also want to live a peaceful life, but do you think Jia and Zhang will let me have any peace?"

Yan Bugui's roar was heard by everyone inside and outside the house, and they were all deep in thought.

Yi Zhonghai had nothing to say; he was well aware of the conflicts between the Jia and Yan families these past few times.

Although the Jia family was the instigator, your Yan family is no better.

Everyone shares responsibility, so it's a bit unreasonable for Yan Bugui to shirk his duties at this point.

Yi Zhonghai wasn't in a hurry; he took out a cigarette and handed it to Yan Bugui.

Yan Bugui turned his head away, not wanting to answer: "Don't try that on me."

Yi Zhonghai insisted on handing it to him: "Alright, Lao Yan, since things have happened, we should deal with them. Have a smoke and relax."

Before he finished speaking, he shoved the cigarette into Yan Bugui's mouth and quickly struck a match to light it for him.

Yi Zhonghai also lit one for himself.

Seeing this, Jia Dongxu's craving for a cigarette also kicked in. He checked his pockets and found nothing. He wanted to ask his master for one but was too embarrassed to ask, afraid of ruining the atmosphere. After hesitating for half a second, he held up two fingers to Yi Zhonghai.

Seeing this, Yi Zhonghai didn't say anything, but gave him a cigarette. Just as he was about to speak to Yan Bugui, his clothes were tugged.

Looking back, he saw that Jia Zhangshi was also gesturing and asking him for a cigarette, while she kept blinking.

Yi Zhonghai still didn't say anything, offered another cigarette to Jia Zhangshi, and then continued to organize his thoughts to speak to Yan Bugui, but his clothes were tugged again, and he turned around once more.

Jia Dongxu opened his mouth, silently uttering a single word: "Fire..."

Yi Zhonghai helplessly closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then suddenly opened them and roared, "Get out, get out of here, you son of a bitch!"

The mother and son were terrified by Yi Zhonghai's outburst and quickly went out of the inner room.

Madam Jia Zhang was still muttering to herself, "Fine, I'll get out..."

The mother and son entered the main room, and Jia Dongxu found a box of matches and lit them. The two of them huddled together and happily lit their cigarettes.

Yang Ruihua, who was lying on the kang (a heated brick bed), pursed her lips and didn't say anything after seeing this.

After taking a puff of her cigarette, Jia Zhangshi felt a little tired; she had used all her strength when she was beating Yan Bugui.

So, ignoring that Yang Ruihua was still on the kang (heated brick bed), he grabbed a pillow and leaned against it, lying down and smoking, which he found quite enjoyable.

Jia Dongxu didn't say anything; he was tired and too lazy to talk.

Yi Zhonghai, after whispering something to Yan Bugui, simply brought him out of the inner room.

Yan Bugui's lips twitched slightly when he saw his wife still lying on Jia Zhangshi's kang (a heated brick bed): "Wife, get up, let's go outside to talk."

Yang Ruihua nodded upon hearing this and said to Jia Zhangshi outside the kang (heated brick bed), "Get out of the way."

Jia Zhangshi smacked her lips a few times and stepped aside.

After leaving the Jia family's house, the group began to formally discuss how to resolve the conflict, as continuing like this was not a solution.

If you mess with me today and I mess with you tomorrow, life will be unbearable. They are just ordinary people and can't take this kind of harassment.

Yi Zhonghai spoke:

"Old Yan, and Dongxu, let's take advantage of the neighbors to clear up the conflict now, so we don't cause trouble later."

"If this continues, your two families will really become the laughing stock of the hospital."

At this point, Xu Fugui, the liaison officer in the courtyard, also stepped forward to mediate between the two families:

"Yes, Lao Yi is right. Lao Yan and Dongxu are neighbors. If this continues, it's going to get out of hand. Do they really want things to escalate beyond control?"

"If that's really the case, Lao Yi and I will leave it alone and go directly to the neighborhood office to find Director Wang to handle it."

As liaisons within the institute, Yi Zhonghai and Xu Fugui's words carry weight.

Yan Bugui understood what they meant: if he still wanted an explanation, then the two of them really wouldn't interfere and would go directly to the neighborhood office to call for help.

If the neighborhood committee gets involved, things will become difficult. First of all, the argument that Yan Bugui, as a liaison officer, had a conflict with his neighbor is untenable.

The liaison officer's position might be revoked, and if that happens, it would be incredibly embarrassing, just like the liaison officer in the neighboring courtyard.

Actually, Yan Bugui felt that things had gotten to the point where it would be difficult to handle if things continued any longer, so he said:

"What about my losses? It's several tens of dollars, and my reputation with the principal is ruined, which will affect my future promotions."

His gaze then turned to Tong Jie:

"The Jia family, it's fine what you do in the yard, but going to someone's workplace to cause trouble is really going too far. Should I go to the steel mill and make a scene too?"

"Did you tell the factory leaders that your Dongxu company is involved in prostitution and gambling?"

"If you're not afraid, I'll go tomorrow!"

Jia Dongxu retorted angrily, "You went to a brothel too, what are we to each other?!"

Yan Bugui laughed upon hearing this: "So what? Your master went to prostitutes too, and so did Lao Liu, Lao Xu, and Lao He."

"Back then, we were still in the Republic of China era. The key difference is that you, Jia Dongxu, are different!"

"It's a new society now. Going to prostitutes is one thing, but the worst part is you got caught."

"You have a problem with your lifestyle."

The men, including Yi Zhonghai, who had been singled out by Yan Bugui, all looked somewhat embarrassed. Why bring up this? It was so awkward…

After hearing Yan Bugui's threats, Tong Jie lost her composure and now she was experiencing the severity of the consequences.

She can go to the school and gossip about Yan Bugui, so why can't Yan Bugui go to the steel mill and talk about her husband?

While her husband Jia Dongxu may not have committed any major offenses, he certainly had many minor flaws.

The worst part is that there's also a troublesome mother-in-law at home.